GETTING INTO THE FLOW

��Ƶ Staff — Sat, 21 May 2022 18:40:57 +0000

With March 20^th marking the International Day of Happiness, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012¹, it’s time to take a step back and put some thought into what makes us happy. But what is happiness? As Howard Mumford Jones, a renowned American intellectual historian, literary critic, poet, and professor at Harvard University, once said, “Happiness… belongs to that category of words, the meaning of which everybody knows, but the definition of which nobody can give.”² Needless to say, happiness can be tricky to define, let alone strive for!

At ��Ƶ, we are committed to the whole child, inspiring students to grow and find balance among all five aspects of self: intellectual, social, spiritual, physical, and emotional. We understand that emotional wellbeing is just as important as intellectual growth, and that positive emotions actually facilitate openness and drive curiosity and exploration. In fact, studies³ find that emotions significantly influence our learning strategies, motivation, cognitive resources, and academic achievement.

GETTING IN THE “FLOW” OF THINGS

Research has documented that happiness is best obtained through “flow” activities that require active physical and psychic investment.⁴ With that being said, flow is defined as a state of concentration so focused that it amounts to absolute absorption in an activity^.5. In fact, there are six key factors that encompass the experience of flow⁶:

Intense and focused concentration on the present moment
Merging of action and awareness
A loss of reflective self-consciousness
A sense of personal control or agency over the situation or activity
A distortion of temporal experience
Experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding

So, how can we “get into the zone”?!

READING

Around the world, the most frequently mentioned enjoyable activity is reading⁵. What can be more absolutely absorbing than ‘losing yourself’ in a good book?! Whether it be fantasy or non-fiction, reading is a great way to become completely involved in an activity, leading to feelings of immersive interest and maybe even a different experience of time itself. Getting wrapped up in an engrossing read allows for the opportunity to escape your own sense of self-consciousness, even if just momentarily.

BEING WITH OTHER PEOPLE

Followed closely behind reading as being reported as the most enjoyable activity is being with other people⁵. Though the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench into this particular activity, there are still ways to socialize with other people- whether that be engaging in shared virtual gaming, meeting via video-call hangouts, or even writing letters back and forth! Engaging with others in various ways allows us to focus our concentration on the present moment- a key factor in the experience of flow⁶.

CREATING ART

Another great way to reach a state of flow is to create art, which allows for a sense of control as well as a merging of action and awareness. Any act of creating and crafting that brings you into the present moment will do- painting, playing music, sculpting, sewing, or even doodling, to name a few. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

GETTING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE

Physical activity is an exceptional way to achieve a state of flow, specifically in its ability to provide opportunities to match one’s skill level to a challenging or goal. Think of a physical activity, like swimming, running, or yoga- we feel most accomplished and competent, allowing for experiences of confidence and a sense of control, when the goal of the activity is well matched to our ability. A beginner runner who participates in a 5K marathon would most likely not reach a state of flow, but an advanced runner could surely “get into the zone”. Not excluding one’s ability to expand one’s skill set, make sure to get your body moving in challenging ways, but not too challenging!

With all of this being said, developing tangible techniques to reach states of flow offer exciting opportunities to work towards finding balance among all five aspects of self and reaching our full potentials. Given the multitude of ways to achieve flow, that elusive emotion we call happiness is surely within our reach!

FOOTNOTES

International Day of Happiness.��
Freedman, J. (1978).��Happy People: What Happiness Is, Who Has It, and Why. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Berry, Natalie (2013, February 17) Are Happy Students Successful Students? https://natberryblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/are-happy-students-successful-students/
Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). The Concept of Flow. In C. Snyder, & S. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 89-105). Oxford University Press.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990).��Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper and Row.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1975).��Beyond Boredom and Anxiety. Washington: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Yunasa West: A Week of Self-Discovery and Fun

��Ƶ Staff — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:10:32 +0000

By Qiao Li, Yunasa Coordinator

this year was yet another fun-filled week that’s packed with self-discovery and growth at YMCA Camp Shady Brook! Campers ventured out to try something new, made lasting friendships and attended many impactful workshops that are designed to nurture balance within.

Some people say it takes a village to raise a child. At Yunasa, it takes a tribe to build this camp. For many, it’s their first sleep-away camp and the longest time apart they have ever spent from their parents. This year, we had 23 new campers! Being mindful of this, our returning campers and counselors actively reached out to new campers and included them in group activities. Some campers are more introverted and reflective than others, but would ensure that they too have a space to share and be heard throughout the week.

From the youngest camper at ag 10 to our most senior elder at 85, Yunasa is a space filled with intergenerational connection and nurturing. Our workshops are designed to nurture balance in all five aspects of self – intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical.

In campers practice guided imagery meditation exercises. The goal is to integrate the conscious self with the unconscious. In the process, campers open a wide flow of energy from their intuition, inspiration and creative energy to the logical self. In the workshop called kindness, campers learn about the biological and physical benefit of practicing kindness and did several meditations in the session. In building and walking the labyrinth, campers constructed a single path in a serene setting. As they walked the labyrinth, they followed a single path that at times appeared to be a “wrong turn,” but each turn actually leads them to a new beginning and ultimately the “eye” of the path. It symbolizes a spiritual journey and the tools needed for transformation. In art-based workshops, campers practiced focus, relaxation, trusting their intuition, self-acceptance and expression through activities such as Intuitive Mandala and Soul Collage.

Yunasa also offers outdoor activities in a traditional camp setting. Campers expand their comfort zones in a safe environment as they try ziplining, rappelling, and rock climbing. They learn about teamwork and build trust on the giant’s ladder and low ropes. They practiced focus with archery and tomahawk throwing. There are also waterfront activities such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing and paddle boarding.

We hope all of our campers and volunteers have been able to get some rest this week. We cannot wait to see you all again in 2020. Until then – may your year be filled with joy, growth and loving kindness!

the entire Yunasa West photo album on ��Ƶ’s Facebook page. To learn more about Yunasa

physical – Institute for Educational Advancement